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May 2026 highlights
Updated June 2026
Compared to April 2026, the unemployment rate decreased from 4.9% to 4.7% (64,419 unemployed individuals). Employers reported 13,600 more jobs on payrolls (for a total of 1,475,800 jobs).
King County's labor market highlights
- Seattle is the county seat and the state’s largest city in terms of population. Its mix of older industrial companies and internet and technology companies have helped King County become the leading county employer in the state. Much of the tech employment is contained within the information industry. Over the past couple of years, employment in this sector has moved from a boom period during the pandemic toward a bust period. In 2024, the information industry shed more jobs in the county than any other industry.
- The Boeing Company maintains major production facilities in the Seattle area and in other parts of King County. In fall 2024, roughly 33,000 Boeing employees went on a seven-week strike through their machinist union. The strike showed up in the October 2024 numbers as a major loss. The November 2024 report reflects workers returning to their jobs.
- King County, the most populous county in the state, is located on Puget Sound in western Washington state. It is bordered on the north by Snohomish County, the northeast by Chelan County, the southeast by Kittitas County, the south by Pierce County and across the Puget Sound on the west by Kitsap County.
Contact King County's labor economist
Paul Turek, Central sound region
- Email Paul: paul.turek@esd.wa.gov
- Call Paul: 360-706-3044
King County is the only county in the Seattle-King Workforce Development Area. Visit the workforce board’s website for information about Washington’s 12 workforce regions.
King County is known as the Seattle-Bellevue MD (part of Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue MSA along with Pierce and Snohomish Counties).
Employment updates for May 2026
Changes to the labor force and unemployment
The May 2026 unemployment rate was 4.7% in King County, 4.8% in Washington state and 4.1% in the United States.
| Measure | May 2026 | Apr. 2026 | May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participant (labor force) | 1,362,333 | 1,358,331 | 1,359,061 |
| Employed persons | 1,297,914 | 1,291,547 | 1,304,134 |
| Persons seeking work | 64,419 | 66,784 | 54,927 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 4.9% | 4.0% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS)
King County's unemployment rate, January 2024 to May 2026
The King County unemployment rate inched up over the last year as job growth has been subdued and uneven. The drop in this month's rate is partly due to seasonal factors but also due to strong job growth over the month.
| Year | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | Jun. | Jul. | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4.4% | 4.2% | 4.1% | 3.9% | 4.0% | 4.7% | 4.5% | 4.4% | 4.2% | 4.1% | 4.0% | 3.6% |
|
4.1% | 4.2% | 4.3% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.7% | 4.8% | 5.3% | 4.9% | |
|
5.7% | 5.5% | 4.8% | 4.9% | 4.7% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS). BLS canceled October 2025's unemployment publications.
Key changes in payroll employment
This includes all employees with paid positions tracked in a company’s payroll system. This doesn’t include agriculture jobs or jobs outside of formal payroll such as freelancers, contractors and self-employed individuals. Numbers in this section are estimates generated by a monthly survey.
In May 2026, King County had 1,475,800 jobs.
Compared with April 2026, May employment increased by 13,600 jobs.
- 11,500 more private jobs.
- 2,100 more government jobs.
- 5,100 more leisure and hospitality jobs.
- 1,600 more professional and business services jobs.
Compared with May 2025, this May’s employment was down by 5,400 (0.4%) jobs.
- 3,300 (0.3%) fewer private jobs.
- 2,100 (1.1%) fewer government jobs.
- 3,600 (2.9%) fewer information jobs.
- 2,100 (1.5%) more leisure and hospitality jobs. Preparations for Seattle World Cup games helped boost employment.
Employment estimates for King County
See a snapshot of this month's data below. A detailed spreadsheet titled Current employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted is on the source page of our site.
Total jobs
| Industry sector | May 2026 | Apr. 2026 | May 2025 | Apr. 2026 to May 2026 |
May 2025 to May 2026 |
Apr. 2026 to May 2026 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nonfarm | 1,475,800 | 1,462,200 | 1,481,200 | 13,600 | -5,400 | -0.4% |
| - Private | 1,284,100 | 1,272,600 | 1,287,400 | 11,500 | -3,300 | -0.3% |
| - Government | 191,700 | 189,600 | 193,800 | 2,100 | -2,100 | -1.1% |
Goods-producing jobs
| Industry sector | May 2026 | Apr. 2026 | May 2025 | Apr. 2026 to May 2026 |
May 2025 to May 2026 |
Apr. 2026 to May 2026 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goods-producing | 163,000 | 161,800 | 162,900 | 1,200 | 100 | 0.1% |
| - Mining and logging | 400 | 400 | 400 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Construction | 70,500 | 69,500 | 71,200 | 1,000 | -700 | -1.0% |
| - Manufacturing | 92,100 | 91,900 | 91,300 | 200 | 800 | 0.9% |
Service-providing jobs
| Industry sector | May 2026 | Apr. 2026 | May 2025 | Apr. 2026 to May 2026 |
May 2025 to May 2026 |
Apr. 2026 to May 2026 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service-providing | 1,312,800 | 1,300,400 | 1,318,300 | 12,400 | -5,500 | -0.4% |
| - Wholesale trade | 56,300 | 56,200 | 57,900 | 100 | -1,600 | -2.8% |
| - Retail trade | 102,300 | 101,500 | 103,800 | 800 | -1,500 | -1.4% |
| - Transportation, warehousing, and utilities | 61,100 | 60,700 | 60,700 | 400 | 400 | 0.7% |
| - Information | 121,600 | 120,800 | 125,200 | 800 | -3,600 | -2.9% |
| - Financial activities | 71,200 | 71,100 | 73,400 | 100 | -2,200 | -3.0% |
| - Professional and business services | 307,800 | 306,200 | 306,900 | 1,600 | 900 | 0.3% |
| - Private education and health services | 204,700 | 204,300 | 203,700 | 400 | 1,000 | 0.5% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 143,400 | 138,300 | 141,300 | 5,100 | 2,100 | 1.5% |
| - Other services | 50,500 | 49,800 | 49,400 | 700 | 1,100 | 2.2% |
| - Government | 191,700 | 189,600 | 193,800 | 2,100 | -2,100 | -1.1% |
Note: Data benchmarked through December 2025, updated June 16, 2026. The current month’s data is preliminary. Analysts continue to refine past months as more related information becomes available. Industry columns use North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industry titles. Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Washington employment estimates (WA-QB & CES)
Employment details for industries and sectors
This profile section uses the latest Quarterly Census of Employment and Wage (QCEW) annual averages data.
This quarterly census data includes both agricultural and nonagricultural employment and wages for firms, organizations and individuals with employees covered by the Washington State Employment Security Act. Covered employment refers to the total number of employees with this type of coverage.
Top sectors by employment
2024’s annual average was 1,449,797 total covered employees.
- Government - 178,581.
- Healthcare and social assistance - 164,376.
- Professional, scientific and technical services - 150,802.
- Information - 128,749.
- Accommodation and food services - 109,122.
Top sectors by wages
2024’s annual average wage was $132,276 for covered employees.
- Information - $350,208.
- Management of companies and enterprises - $302,336.
- Professional, scientific and technical services - $173,302.
- Finance and insurance - $172,119.
- Wholesale trade - $137,247.
2024 annual average employment by industry
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Workforce demographics for King County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 1,891,563 | 69.9% | 4.8% |
| 16 to 19 years | 98,939 | 35.7% | 16.4% |
| 20 to 24 years | 134,628 | 77.9% | 8.6% |
| 25 to 29 years | 198,826 | 88.6% | 4.7% |
| 30 to 34 years | 220,279 | 87.8% | 4.6% |
| 35 to 44 years | 367,010 | 86.3% | 4.4% |
| 45 to 54 years | 293,588 | 85.0% | 3.6% |
| 55 to 59 years | 131,117 | 77.3% | 3.9% |
| 60 to 64 years | 126,277 | 62.9% | 3.6% |
| 65 to 74 years | 191,434 | 29.9% | 4.0% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 1,078,956 | 67.8% | 4.7% |
| Black or African American alone | 116,896 | 69.6% | 7.7% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 11,478 | 67.0% | 6.9% |
| Asian alone | 401,988 | 72.6% | 3.4% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone | 13,398 | 72.0% | 6.0% |
| Some other race alone | 86,805 | 75.2% | 5.8% |
| Two or more races | 182,042 | 74.4% | 6.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 182,496 | 75.8% | 5.6% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 1,050,216 | 67.6% | 4.7% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 1,471,725 | 83.0% | 4.6% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 761,568 | 87.8% | 4.6% |
| Female | 710,157 | 77.8% | 4.5% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 years | 226,741 | 73.6% | 4.1% |
| With own children under 6 years only | 56,092 | 73.0% | 3.8% |
| With own children under 6 years and 6 to 17 years | 38,370 | 63.2% | 4.9% |
| With own children 6 to 17 years only | 132,279 | 76.8% | 4.0% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 116,711 | 48.6% | 26.3% |
| At or above the poverty level | 1,344,979 | 86.4% | 3.5% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 118,794 | 59.8% | 10.8% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 1,337,097 | 83.5% | 4.2% |
| Less than high school graduate | 77,819 | 68.1% | 7.4% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 177,259 | 75.6% | 6.6% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 293,572 | 80.2% | 5.3% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 788,447 | 88.1% | 3.1% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024: ACS 5-year estimates S2301 | Employment Status
Funding
This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, expressed or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.